slice of bread, sandwich [noun] [de boterham, de boterhammen; ‘boo-tur-ham’]

A "boterham" is either a slice of bread, as part of a loaf of bread, or it is one folded slice of bread with some kind of filling. A "dubbele boterham" involves two slices and comes down to a sandwich. There is some ambiguity here: it is sometimes unclear if a "boterham" is composed of one or two slices of bread. So most Dutch people clarify by saying "enkele boterham" (single), "dubbele boterham" (double), or "sneetje", the latter if they don’t want the slice to be folded 🙂

Normal home made Dutch "boterhammen" are very modest compared to sandwiches that you’d buy somewhere (which in turn are very modest compared to for example U.S. sandwiches 🙂 ). Maybe it’s the Calvanistic influence!

Examples:
– "Wil je een boterham of een sneetje met kaas?"
("Would you like a sandwich or a slice with cheese?")

– "Lunch jij op het werk of neem je boterhammen mee?"
("Do you have lunch at work or do you bring sandwiches?")

– "Ik doe meestal kaas op mijn boterham."
("I usually put cheese on my sandwich.")

– "De boterhamzakjes zijn op, wil jij nieuwe kopen?"
("We are out of sandwich bags, can you buy new ones?" Lit.: "The sandwich bags are finished…")

Expressions:
– "Zijn boterham verdienen met…": to earn a living with… Lit. "to earn a slice of bread with…"
– "Een dikke boterham verdienen.": to make good money. Lit. "to earn a fat/thick sandwich".
– "Een afgelikte boterham.": lit. a "licked off" sandwich, this is a person who has been "loved" by many others if you know what we mean. A bit like the "town bike".

Related words:
– "Belegde boterham": a sandwich, a slice of bread with filling.
– "(Brood)beleg": a filling, slices of ham/cheese, whatever you put on your sandwich.
– "Broodje": a bun, a roll.
– "Belegd broodje": bun/roll with a filling.
– "Smeren": to butter, to spread. See also 194. Peren for a different use of "smeren".

Example:
– "Ik zag twee beren broodjes smeren, o dat was een wonder…"
("I saw two bears preparing sandwiches, oh that was a miracle." First line of well-known Dutch children’s song.)

1. to withdraw cash from a cash dispenser (or ATM) [verb] [pinde, gepind; ‘pin-nun’]

The abbreviation PIN was copied from the English Personal Identification Number, and we turned it into a verb by adding -en. The second translation of "pinnen", see below, is just as common.

Examples:
– "Wacht even, ik moet eerst nog even pinnen."
("Wait (a second)/Hold on, I have to withdraw some cash first.")

– "Dat is balen, ik kan niet meer pinnen; mijn saldo is onvoldoende!"
("That sucks/that’s tough luck, I can’t withdraw cash anymore; my balance is insufficient!")

2. to pay by switch/debit card [verb] [pinde, gepind]

Contrary to (at least) the U.S., paying by credit card is not as common in the Netherlands. Paying by switch/debit card ("pinpas") is the preferred method. As shop owners have to pay the credit card companies a percentage of the transaction, they often ask you to pay with your "pinpas" if possible. They might even refuse a credit card if the item that you are purchasing was already heavily discounted.

Examples:
– "U kunt meteen beginnen met pinnen."
("You can initiate your payment by switch/debit card straight away." This you will read at supermarket check-outs. It is intended to speed up the proces. As soon as the cashier starts scanning your goods, you can swipe the card and enter your PIN.)

– "Pinnen onder de 10 Euro kost 0,10 extra."
("Paying by switch/debit card for an amount less than 10 Euros costs an additional 0.10." For the transaction by switch/debit card, shop owners pay a fixed fee which they deem too high if you don’t purchase enough.)

– "U kunt hier niet pinnen."
("No payment by switch/debit card." Lit. "You can’t pay by switch/debit card here.")

Related words:
– "Pinpas": cash/switch/debit card.

– "Pincode": PIN code.

Example:
– "Je mag alles van me weten, behalve mijn pincode!"
("I will tell you everything you want to know of me, except my PIN code!" Lit. "You are allowed to know everything of me, …" This was a slogan used by the Dutch government when the PIN code was first introduced.)

– "Pinautomaat": cash dispenser/machine, ATM.

Examples:
-"Is er hier een pinautomaat in de buurt?"
("Is there an ATM nearby?")

– "Weet u de dichtsbijzijnde pinautomaat?"
("Do you know where the closest ATM is?")

– "Chippen": to pay with a preloaded chip card. This separate card called "chippas" has a chip to which you can upload money.

– "Flappentappen": informal synonym for "pinnen". See DWOTD 105. Flap for an explanation.

1. angry [adjective/adverb]

When declining "boos", the "s" changes into a "z": "boze". See the examples.

Examples:
– "Waarom kijk je zo boos?"
("Why are you looking so angry?")

– "Frank was vandaag in een boze bui, omdat iemand zijn auto bekrast had."
("Frank was in an angry mood today, because someone scratched his car.")

– "Ik ben een beetje boos, want hij is alweer niet op komen dagen!"
("I’m a bit angry, because once again he did not show up!")

Expression:
– "Ben je boos, pluk een roos! Zet ‘m op je hoed, dan ben je morgen weer zoet!": literally this means "Are you angry, pick a rose! Put it on your hat, then you will be sweet/good tomorrow". It is actually more of a children’s rhyme and parents say it to their sulky children. Adults often use it too, but usually only the first half, since everyone assumes you know the rest 🙂

2. evil [adjective/adverb]

Examples:
– "Boze tongen beweren dat de CEO geld witwaste."
("Evil tongues claim that the CEO laundered money."

– "De boze fee veranderde de kinderen in kleine padden met één slag van haar toverstok."
("The evil fairy changed the kids into toads with one stroke of her magic wand.")

– "De boze plannen van de schurk werden verijdeld door 007."
("The villain’s evil plans were frustrated by 007.")

Expressions:
– "Dat is uit den boze!": That’s absolutely not going to happen! Lit.: That is from the evil/godless.

Related words:
– "Kwaad": angry, evil. Synonymous to "boos".
– "Kwaadaardig": malicious.
– "Nijdig": cross, angry.

cheerful, happy, glad, merry [adjective/adverb]

When declining "blij", both "blije" and "blijde" is used. The latter is more formal. See the examples.

Examples:
– "Ik ben zo blij je weer te zien!"
("I’m so glad to see you again!")

– "Daar ben ik blij om/mee."
("I’m glad about that.")

– "Ik ben erg blij met dit cadeau."
("I’m very happy/pleased with this present.")

– "Blij om dat te horen."
("Glad to hear that.")

– "Tijdens Koninginnedag zijn er overal blijde gezichten."
("At Queen’s Day there are cheerful faces everywhere.")

– "De kinderen zongen blij "drie maal drie is negen" in de klas."
("The children sang "drie maal drie is negen" merrily in class."

– "De Apostelen verkondigden de Blijde Boodschap."
("The Apostels preached the Glad Tidings.")

– "De vrouw was in blijde verwachting."
("The woman was expecting (a baby)." Lit.: "The woman was in happy expectation.")

Expressions:
– "Zo blij als een kind": very happy. Lit.: as happy as a child.

– "Iemand blij maken met een dooie mus": to get somebody (all) excited about nothing. Lit.: to make somebody happy with a dead sparrow.

Related words:
– "Blijdschap": joy, happiness.
– "Vrolijk": cheerful.